Functioning Ego — August Mandalas (Goethe & Color)

ONE: The 8th Stage of the Great Round, Functioning Ego, allows you to stand on your own two feet, reach out, and engage the Universe, much like a flower turns to face the sun. Medium: Crayola markers, Portfolio Brand Water-Soluble Oil Pastels, and Rainbow Magic pens that change & erase color.

TWO: In the rising star of Stage 8, others begin to take notice of skills, abilities, and dedication to your craft. The 5-poined star mandala has a firm foundation, arms outstretched, head held high. Medium: Reeves Water Colour Pencils.

THREE: During Stage 8, you take life by the hand and learn to manage the many circles spinning around you. Whether a complex project, people working together in the spirit of cooperation, or the waxing phases of the Moon, you are learning to work in harmony with Nature. Medium: Crayola markers, Portfolio Brand Water-Soluble Oil Pastels, and Reeves Water Colour Pencils.

FOUR: In this Native American mandala, the static cross sprouts wings and becomes a spinning Thunderbird form, ancient symbol of the Sun. Archaeological evidence of this shape on ornaments dates from the Neolithic period. Medium: Crayola markers, Portfolio Brand Water-Soluble Oil Pastels, and Reeves Water Colour Pencils.

August Mandalas — Stage 8 – Functioning Ego

Whether starting your own business, remodeling your home, or managing interpersonal issues as a community leader, Functioning Ego is about taking Action. A time of doing, not being, Stage 8 becomes activated when you take the initiative to bring an inspiration into reality, and really kicks in when you are engrossed in the challenging tasks required to reach your goals.

These mandalas are from the 8th month of a year-long mandala practice that began with the post Coloring Mandalas. Early this year, I made the decision to follow the twelve passages of Joan Kellogg’s The Great Round. According to Susanne F. Fincher, the healing benefits of The Great Round: Stage 8 – Functioning Ego are:

ability to work comfortably in group settings, organizations, or alone, whichever is needed to accomplish your goals

inspiration becomes reality through great effort, and takes on a form that is seen and appreciated by others

you are actively engaged toward personal goals, living life on life’s terms, using the imagination to the fullest to create new and wondrous things

on the spiritual level, healing takes place through finding ways of sharing wisdom gently and respectfully with others, in ways they can understand

I’m currently working on the tail end of October’s mandalas, along with a painting in the studio. The textures and colors are kind of wild on the canvas, so I thought I’d continue to use the mandalas to talk about color. Some time ago, when I was researching information on Providence, I ran into Johann Wolfgang von Goethe’s Theory of Colours(original German title, Zur Farbenlehre).

Goethe's Colour Wheel, 1809, image Public Domain

Goethe, originator of the concept of World Literature (Weltliteratur), took great interest in the literatures of England, France, Italy, classical Greece, and Persia, and wrote what is considered a high point of world literature, the two-part drama Faust. Theory of Colours was published in 1810 and Wassily Kandinsky called it, “one of the most important works.”

The last major color breakthrough had been in 1660 with Sir Isaac Newton whose work in optics led to his creation of the color wheel. For Newton all the colors existed within white light. But Goethe’s Colour Wheel arose from the interaction of light and dark, and the psychological effects of color. Goethe didn’t see darkness as an absence of light, but polar opposite and interacting with light. Colour resulted from the interaction of light and shadow.

Yellow is a light which has been dampened by darkness; Blue is a darkness weakened by the light. Light is the simplest most undivided most homogenous being that we know. Confronting it is the darkness.

Goethe wanted to uncover color’s secrets and investigated whether rules could be used to govern the artistic use of color. He created a Colour Wheel but later found his ideas were best expressed within an equilateral triangle. In Goethe’s original triangle, the three primaries red, yellow, and blue, are arranged at the vertices of the triangle. He chose the primaries based as much on their emotional content as on their physical characteristics.

To Goethe it was important to understand human reaction to color, and his research marks the beginning of modern color psychology. He believed that his triangle was a diagram of the human mind and linked each color with certain emotions. Blue evoked a quiet mood, while red was festive and imaginative. The emotional aspect of the arrangement of the triangle reflects Goethe’s belief that the emotional content of each color be taken into account by artists.

Goethe’s theories of color and emotional response, once considered radical, are commonplace in today’s world. Over the course of the year, I am learning about my own color preferences in relationship to the circle. Perhaps color observations about our work say as much about us emotionally, as they do our art.

30 Responses

QuoinMonkey, I look forward to the mandalas to see what new things you have created and discovered. Color is so much more than it seems. It creates moods. It influences without much effort. We react strongly to certain colors and not to others. Metaphysics is full of explanations about how color impacts us physically and spiritually. Fascinating stuff. Thanks for sharing your mandalas. I especially like that you give the tools you used to create them.

Thanks, Bob. I appreciate your comment. I’m learning a lot from this practice. The fun thing about using Fincher’s book is that I get to explore different mediums, color combinations, and work with all kinds of shapes within the circles. I get lots of ideas.

I have trimmed most of the mandalas and pinned some of them to the wall in my studio. They inspire me to want to create more. The one I am painting on canvas is mixed media and larger than these. It has a concept, a theme, too.

Liz and I went to an art store last weekend for the first time in I don’t know how long. I ended up buying some smaller canvases to accommodate this size – the size I’ve been working with all year. I kind of like this size and I’m used to it.

Something else I discovered is that I work on the tightness of the inside of the circle first, then really let loose on the outside, the background. By “letting loose” I mean I get all dirty, add lots of different colors, and scrape them away without a lot of thought. It’s intuitive. The backgrounds are almost my favorite thing to do now.

Hey, weren’t you going to tackle some mandalas at one point? Thought I remembered you talking about it. I think I may continue with them next year in maybe a less formal manner. Not sure yet how that’s going to play out.

I am forever learning! That’s so neat to know that even Goethe has his own color theory with a wheel and especially the triangle. Never knew that!

I love the first one you did, QM. Hmm, maybe it’s because of the color combinations and the “movement” feeling of that mandala as apparent with the squiggly and curvy lines. Gives an extra texture to it. What medium(s) did you use? It looks a lot like oil pastels…

QM, of course you know I love all of the mandala posts. The last time Brant was here we were trying to decide what craft project we would do. Immediately he said that he wanted to color mandalas. I can’t wait to show him these!
BTW, where did you pick up the Reeves water colour pencils? I am especially fond of the Laws Of Nature. D

I’ve been meaning to come back and comment on this post all day. I appreciate the background on color. Makes one realize the science behind it, too. Isn’t it amazing, the connection between art, science, and math?

I’m a blue and green person. I like light pink to wear, but my favorite colors are blue, and usually with a hint of white—more cornflower than say, teal. And green, with a hint of white, too, more sage than, say, lime. My color preferences have changed over the years. I used to love the bright colors of Mexico, for example, but I seem to be in a more mellow mood these past two years.

All four mandalas in this series are great, but I’m especially fond of the first and third. Those seem to have through your texturing so much movement.

Like Franny, I’m impressed by your dedication to this practice. And when I think about all your practices, I realize you have demonstrated so much persistence, which is in my opinion one of the most important traits for writers and artists.

I have been fascinated by the thunderbird symbol for years. I love your description of a cross sprouting wings, and then spinning away.

And I really like Goethe’s triangle – makes me think I should delve into the study of color. The mandalas I create every day have definitely changed in their palette. For a while, it seemed I couldn’t stay away from browns and reds and black. Now I’m moving towards what I think of as less emotionally intense colors. Something to think about.

I just realized I completely missed the rest of these comments somehow. Thanks to everyone who’s following this progression. I’d better get the September mandalas up soon! I’ve moved on to November’s now.

Last night I was in the studio after a time away and an artist friend dropped by. I was showing her the painting I’m working on. I’m kind of excited to keep going on these in different mediums. I already have an idea for my next mandala painting. It’s healing and relaxing for me to work on these.

Franny, thanks so much for your comment. It does make me wonder what it is you are learning about me. 8) I bet people see a lot more of me and ybonesy than we could ever imagine from checking out red Ravine once in a while.

Hey, I do remember that buzz about color in the work place. I work part-time for a company that uses all shades of gray — cubes, carpeting, everything. It’s very conservative. There is a neutralness about it though that keeps you focused on work.

a~lotus, the first one is almost all oil pastels with a little marker thrown in. I don’t know why, but I love working with the oil pastels. I was talking to a painter friend who says she uses the oil sticks along with oil paint on her paintings. To me, they are really a fun medium.

ybonesy, yeah, the first and third have a lot of energy. I like the 4th one, too. It kind of vibrates. This practice has been good for me. It does take persistence to get them posted I am finding. That initial resistance comes up; then I have to work through it and get them out there.

diddy, you can get the watercolor pencils at any art store, even the chains like Michael’s. A few weeks ago, we went to PennCo a great local art supply store that specializes in higher scale art products. The Art Cellar at MCAD is great, too, and sometimes cheaper.

What I like about a place like Michael’s is that they have a kids section geared for kids products. You can get a lot of ideas there. Maybe it would be fun to take Brant along to get some new supplies for his mandalas. Mom and I took E. Elise to a similar chain there in PA last July right before I left. Can’t remember the name. Ask Mom what store that was. I think they might have had the water color pencils.

Bo, I like the Thunderbird, too. I’ve been fascinated with color since my first Visual Studies class. At that time I was interested in the Theosophists like Annie Besant and Charles Webster Leadbeater and the Seven Rays. Cool stuff.

There have been volumes written about color and its meaning and symbology. A recent Guest of ours on red Ravine, Carol, is going to Colombia next year to study the color systems there as part of her sabbatical.

We were talking about it to a person who wandered into the studio one night and he said, “Hmmm, that’s funny. I thought color looked the same everywhere.”

We chuckled and told him it symbolizes different things to different peoples and cultures. And it made us realize that some people don’t get that deep — but take things more literally. I guess they’d be more like Newton and less like Goethe. It takes all of us in this world. 8)

QM, thanks for the info. I have taken Brant to Michael’s on many occasions. I also like how they have the sections for childrens art supplies. Problem is I end up spending way too much money when he is along. I think the store you went to could have been A.C. Moore’s, but I’ll check with Mom. I think the water color pencils would make a terrific Christmas present. D

diddy, that might have been it. It didn’t seem like Michael’s but I couldn’t remember the name. Art supplies make GREAT Christmas presents. They are expensive and people often don’t want to splurge on them for themselves. So it’s always nice to give them as gifts. Great idea!

I worked on my mandala painting at the studio last night and Alas! I feel like I’ve ruined it! I added a sandy background but it’s too much color. It needs grounding badly. I need to go back today with a fresh eye and hopefully I can save it. The thing about painting on a larger scale, it’s a little different than the smaller mandalas I’m doing. Plus I’m not the kind of natural painter that ybonesy is. I really have to work at pulling it together. More on that later.

Liz is working on a video piece that’s due next weekend. So we’ve been spending a lot of hours at the studio. Last night we didn’t get home until about 2am. It’s wonderful but also tiring, as is all work worth doing. I feel lucky to have a place to work. There was an opening of the Rain Collective last night, too, so there were lots of people around (even ran into a woman from poetry group). I also struck up a conversation with a man who had spent his whole life in Northeast Minneapolis and his father had built what is now The Modern cafe. Good conversations. Keep us posted on yours and Brant’s next mandalas. 8)

[…] yard work with Liz, meetings with ybonesy around red Ravine, I’m researching and doing the ground work for a new mandala on canvas. I’m making progress on a series that’s been in my head for a while. After […]

I’m excited to announce that Liz came home with a big surprise yesterday. She had a gift certificate at Barnes & Noble. So she decided to buy the book COLORING MANDALAS 2 from Susanne Fincher. I’m so excited!

She then went and copied all 72 mandalas on thick 11 x 17 paper so that we can start coloring them again. So I may be doing a new mandala practice in 2010 and some new posts. It was completely unexpected and I kind of teared up that she was that thoughtful.

I have started a few paintings in the studio of mandalas on canvas but they take much longer to complete and much more planning than the coloring. What I have found is that the coloring of the mandala templates is like a mandala practice that keeps me focused for creating my own mandalas. (Much like Writing Practice is to writing.)

I’m trying to decide whether to focus on the Great Round again next year or try a new strategy with these 72 new mandalas. Will keep you posted!

Norm, thank you for stopping by on the mandala post. I’ve started coloring mandalas from the new mandala book, mostly when we are sitting around in the evenings. I like to do it with a documentary in the background or a movie. I find the movie keeps the rational part of my brain busy while the other side colors. Less inhibited.

I have still been meaning to get the last mandalas from the Great Round practice from 2008 posted to red Ravine. I don’t know why I’ve put that off for so long. I think it’s the effort it takes to get the post up. And the fact that so much time has gone by. I should be embarrassed by that! I still hope to get them posted before 2010 because I want to start posting the new mandalas then.

I haven’t been as committed to the mandala practice this year as last. Since I’ve moved to trying to paint them, it takes more time and is a learning process for me with the paint (I’m not a painter by trade).

It seems like readers are really interested in the process and practice around mandalas though and I’m happy that these posts have inspired people. Thanks again, Norm, for the push forward.

Thanks QuoinMonkey for the thoughtful update. My query was borne out of curiousity and interest so I appreciate hearing how you’re making out with them. I can understand that painting them would be a whole other bag of nuts and more time consuming.

I have only done a few and laid off them over the summer but when I get back into ‘the doing’ of them I’ll post ’em.

Take your time, continue to enjoy the practice and post when you’re ready….. I’ll look forward to seeing what you come up with.

QM (and Norm, although I left a comment on Norm’s blog already), Heather from anuvue featured an artist named Raina Colvin (hmmm…any relation to Shawn?) who painted a series of mandalas. I think you’re going to love them, QM. Made me realize just how complex and diverse mandalas can be. Can’t wait to hear what you think:

[…] hard not to be inspired when you see greatness. One example; over at red Ravine are ybonesy and Quoinmonkey. I asked when QM would be posting more of her mandala series and she got back to me promptly. […]

ybonesy, I just checked out Heather’s post with Raina Colvin. AMAZING work. Thank you for pointing me her way. Her mandalas feel connected to the Earth and centered. I love them. I commented there and asked her a few questions. Nice job, Heather!

Norm, thanks for the shout out on your blog. I really appreciate you prompting me to get the rest of 2008’s The Great Round mandala posts up on red Ravine. And to begin posting my new series in 2010. I almost got the September post up but then started this crazy new job schedule. I’m dead on my feet when I get home and away from a desk or the Internet all day. What a change!

ybonesy and I are having to make adjustments. And I’m still working out the details of blogging from the road. Will keep you posted. Thanks for the inspiration to keep going on the mandala posts, Norm. It really does help. I’m also getting into coloring the 72 new mandalas from the book that Liz bought me. I’ll be posting some of those in 2010. It’s keeping me sane, something I can do without thinking, even when I’m tired. Unlike writing, art can sometimes be done with the mind on hold. 8)

[…] color systems at the end of this post. But it’s been over a year since I posted Stage 8, Functioning Ego — August Mandalas (Goethe & Color) (my apologies). So I decided the most important thing is to complete the posting of the entire […]

[…] complicated ideas with a simple visual. Over time, color has been organized into systems like Goethe’s Triangle and subsequent Colour Wheel, while chakras are symbolized by certain colors. Logos and brands (like red Ravine or […]

[…] The days are dark, the nights long. Five days until Winter Solstice. Holidays draw us to friends and family, gift giving, service work; I want to go inside. Reflective heat, ambient light. Darkroom blues. I have spent hours under red safelights in black and white darkrooms. What color is Joy? […]

[…] production of chocolate proceeded at a faster pace than anywhere else in the world. And in 1797, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe toured Switzerland and insisted on having chocolate available at all times, along with a chocolate […]